2026-05-03 Dead but living through Christ

 (Eph 2:1-10)

Okay, let’s do a quick exercise. Take a deep breath in…now hold it. Imagine you don’t breathe out, what will happen? You would suffocate. In the same way, spiritual life also has two parts: receiving and giving. If we stop either one, our spiritual life begins to suffocate. Today, we’re looking at Ephesians 2:1–10. we’ll touch on three parts: who we were, what God has done, and what we are created for. Let’s read Eph 2:1-10: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1. Dead in our sins. (v.1-3)

v.1 says, “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.”  This isn’t physical death but spiritual death. We see this in Genesis 3. God warned Adam, “If you eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you will surely die.” Yet Adam lived to 930 years old after eating the forbidden fruit. Did God lie? No. God never lies. He was speaking of spiritual death, a loss of connection with God. God is Spirit. He lives in a realm we cannot see, but it is real. Just as the air is real, though we can’t see it. And when God speaks, He often points us to unseen realities that shape and even govern what we can see. Spiritual death means separation from God, losing relationship with Him and the ability to respond to Him.

Because in the presence of a holy God, sin and holiness cannot coexist. That is why Adam and Eve were driven from Eden, the presence of God. They lost intimacy with God as their Father and Provider. Sin caused fear, hiding, blame and guilt. This was our condition, dead in sin. V. 2–3 say three things can lead us to dead in sin. A. The ways of this world. The patterns, values and thinking of a world not aligned with God. Media and success culture can quietly shape what we love and believe. The world says: Promote yourself. Trust yourself. Boast in yourself. But God says, humble yourself. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Pro 16:18).” Think of King Nebuchadnezzar. He boasted in his greatness and thought his power was secure, but God made him like an animal until he acknowledged that the Most High rules. B. The ruler of the kingdom of the air. This speaks of demonic power at work in the world. Sometimes people open doors without realising it, through occult practices, horoscopes, temple worship or fortune telling. Two weeks ago, a sister shared she had back pain after a spiritual massage. After a prayer of repentance and renouncing what had been opened, and the next week she testified the pain had gone. It reminds us, living in this world, we need to be careful what we follow and close every door not aligned with Christ. C. Gratifying the cravings of the flesh. Alongside outside influence, there is our inner desires. James says desire conceives sin, and sin when full-grown brings death. (James 1:15) When outside influence and inner desire come together, sin grows. And if we ignore it and do not repent, we become numb spiritually. We lose hunger for prayer, for Scripture, and drift from God again. But thank God the story does not end in verse 3.

2, What God has done for us. (v.4-9)

V.4 says: But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy. v.8 says, it’s by grace you have been saved, through faith, it’s a gift of God. Clearly, salvation is not by our own works, but by grace. What is grace? Grace is God giving us what we could never earn. It is a gift. Grace is not God helping good people become better. Grace is God making dead people alive. That is grace. A religious mindset says, “I failed. I’m ashamed to go and worship God. When I feel better, I’ll go.” So religion says, “Clean yourself up, then come.” Grace says, “Come, just as you are, God will cleanse you.” What amazing grace. Through faith and repentance, God made the dead alive with Christ! And He did even more. V.6 says, “God seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” What does that mean? It means God didn’t just save us, He positioned us. He seated us with Christ. He gives us identity, authority, and position before we can do anything for Him. In Christ, we’ve been positioned in the heavenly realms, sharing in His victory. We don’t have to live under fear, shame, lies, pride, or lust. When we pray in faith, we reach out to His grace, we deny our own desires, and we’re given the power to live out the victory of Christ. This is what God has done for us.

3, Living through Christ. (v.9-10)

v.9 says, “so that no one can boast.” No pride. No self-glory. Only gratitude. Only worship. He is worthy of our worship! Here, grace leads us to another question, what are we now created for? v.10 says, “for we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Workmanship means His handiwork, His masterpiece. You are not an accident. You are not a mistake. God has given you grace with purpose. We’re not saved by good works but saved for good works. Some seek God only when they need problems solved, then return to old ways. But grace is not for that. Jesus said, “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” In other words, don’t seek God only for your needs to be met, otherwise troubles may keep circling back. Seek Him to be made His masterpiece, to restore the intimacy Adam lost in the Garden, where God was his Covering and Provision. You don’t have to worry about what you eat, or if you have enough money to pay the mortgage, or whatever, because there was no insecurity, but peace, love and joy. Through Christ’s cross and His indwelling Spirit, that life is possible again. Seek Him for the good works He prepared for you. You may ask, “what are those good works?” They’ll unfold as you walk with Him, as you obey His truth and follow His Spirit.

Think of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. When grace came into his house through Jesus, it changed how he lived, how he used his money, and how he treated people. Grace produced fruit. Think of Peter. Jesus restored him by grace, then said, “Feed my sheep.” Grace restored him for purpose. It’s the same for us. Good works include joining Jesus in His mission. When grace comes to you, you begin to serve others in love. Whether you teach English, serve in the kitchen, share the good news, pray for others, or even pray for a new leadership structure aligned with what God is doing now and in the years ahead, according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, these are good works. 

And as you yield to the Holy Spirit and use your gifts, prophesying, serving, giving, encouraging, or leadership, to build up the body of Christ, you are fulfilling why God made you alive. And when you are faithful in the little things, God will entrust you with more. Grace is given for a purpose! You may have come today feeling weak, or stuck, or even spiritually numb. But here is the good news: When you were dead, God made you alive. And the One who made you alive, will also lead you into the good works He has prepared for you, good works that carry eternal purpose, and that help you take small steps of faith through worries and struggles, as you learn to walk with Him. He is calling you back into relationship with Him, the intimacy Adam lost and Christ restored, back into purpose, back into bearing fruit. Can you hear His call today?

Prayer

Yes Lord…thank You, Jesus, for the blood. Thank You for the blood that washed us, the blood that made the dead alive. Thank You not only for making us alive with Christ, but for raising us up with Christ and seating us with Christ in the heavenly realms, to triumph over sin, Satan and death. What amazing grace You have given us through the shedding of Your own blood. We praise You.

So today, Lord, we open our hearts before You. Holy Spirit, search us. If there are places where the ways of this world have shaped our thinking, through pride, self-reliance, fear, compromise, chasing success without You, comparing ourselves with others, trusting money more than You, living for human approval, comfort or control, and where these have aligned our thoughts with the cravings of the flesh, Lord, reveal it to us.

Now, if you want to make this prayer personal, you can pray with me:

“Lord Jesus, forgive me. Forgive me when voices shaped by the world have shaped my thinking, and I have ended up in fear, anger, anxiety, striving, pride, complaint, or despair. And in those places, I have drifted from You. But thank You for the grace that allows me to come back through Your blood.

I renounce agreement with every lie that whispers, God is slow or not enough, that I must control everything, that I am not included, that I cannot change, that my security is found outside of You, in a job, in money, in success, or in human approval. Lord, I turn from these lies and back to Your truth.

And Lord, I also confess where I have opened doors to spiritual things not aligned with Christ—through horoscopes, zodiac signs, fortune telling, tarot, temple worship, ancestor worship, superstition, spiritual curiosity, occult practices, or any healing practices entangled with witchcraft.

In Jesus’ name, I renounce these. I break agreement with every false spiritual alliance, knowingly or unknowingly made. I close every door I have opened that is not of You. I belong to Jesus Christ alone. Break every power of sin over my life. Cleanse me through the blood of Jesus. Holy Spirit, revive me. Restore my hunger for Your Word, for prayer, and for Your presence.

Now today, we’re going to take communion together. Those serving communion, would you please come forward. We’ll wait until everyone has received the bread and the cup, and then we’ll take them together.

1 Cor 11:23–26: “The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’

As we take the bread, we remember the body of Christ broken for us, so that we who were dead might be made alive in Him. We remember the intimacy Adam lost and Christ restored for us. Help us remain in You, and You in us. Let us eat together.

“In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.’

As we take the cup, we remember the blood of Jesus shed for us—blood that forgives, cleanses, and sets us free. Through this grace, we are made God’s masterpiece, created in Christ for good works. Help us to live out this truth. Let us drink together.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace, Your blood, and Your life in us. Holy Spirit, help us walk in intimacy with the Father, faithful in His purpose and fruitful for His Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Small Group Discussion

1, In Ephesians 2:1–3, Paul says we were “dead in sin.” What do you think spiritual death means, and how did you see that in your life before Christ?
2, Paul says we were influenced by the world, the flesh, and spiritual powers. Which of these do you find believers struggle with most today, and why?
3, What does “But God, who is rich in mercy…” mean to you personally? How have you experienced God’s grace in your life?
4, What stood out to you about being made alive and seated with Christ? How does this shape your identity and spiritual authority?
5, We heard that we are not saved by good works but saved for good works. What “good works” do you sense God may be calling you to walk in?
6, The sermon spoke about God restoring the intimacy Adam lost and Christ restored. What helps you grow in that intimacy with God?
7, Can you hear God calling you back into deeper relationship, purpose, or fruitfulness in some area of your life? How might you respond this week?